French minister calls out Trump on climate change as Irma wreaks havoc

PARIS (Reuters) - French Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot said on Friday extreme weather conditions like the powerful hurricane bearing down on Florida risked becoming the norm, and took a dig at U.S. President Donald Trump's stance on climate change.

In an interview with France 2 TV about Hurricane Irma, Hulot implied that Trump - who has called global warming a hoax - was ignoring the reality of man-made climate change, which most mainstream scientists regard as an established fact.

Trump said in May he was pulling the United States out of the landmark 2015 global agreement to fight climate change that was brokered in Paris, saying it would harm the U.S. economy and cost jobs.

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Reaction to US withdrawing from the Paris Agreement

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Reaction to US withdrawing from the Paris Agreement

A historic mistake. The world is moving forward together on climate change. Paris withdrawal leaves American workers & families behind.

What President Trump did today by withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord is an international disgrace. https://t.co/ZjBMOiABDj

Walking away from Paris treaty is a mistake. Climate change is real. We owe our children more. Protecting our future also creates more jobs.

I applaud @POTUS for putting American jobs & energy first by withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. https://t.co/K3vabFUJq5

Statement on the US' withdrawal from the Paris climate agreements. #parisagreement
https://t.co/T4XOjWZW0Q

My statement on Today’s Decision by the Trump Administration to Withdraw from the Paris Agreement:… https://t.co/JkX5gAWiZO

JUST IN: Statement from President Barack Obama on the Paris Climate Accord: https://t.co/hVDrsPFrTH

Every foreign leader attacking Pres Trump over leaving Paris Accord -further proof the deal was one sided and better for foreigners than US

Today, our planet suffered. It’s more important than ever to take action. #ParisAgreement https://t.co/FSVYRDcGUH

Withdrawing from the #ParisAgreement will be devastating to our planet. Paris and Pittsburgh share the same environ… https://t.co/rg5nMkQd6H

As the Mayor of Pittsburgh, I can assure you that we will follow the guidelines of the Paris Agreement for our peop… https://t.co/kOIEW44Odh

.@POTUS withdrawal from Paris Accord will forever damage our planet and our standing in the world. There is no Planet B, Mr. President.

On behalf of New York City, I will commit to honor the goals of the Paris agreement with an Executive Order in the coming days.

Disappointed with today’s decision. Google will keep working hard for a cleaner, more prosperous future for all.

Today's decision is a setback for the environment and for the U.S.'s leadership position in the world. #ParisAgreement

Trump’s abandonment of the Paris Climate Deal demonstrates once again that he is void of basic business acumen, foresight, or initiative.

Am departing presidential councils. Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.

We’re disappointed with the decision to exit the Paris Agreement. Microsoft remains committed to doing our part to achieve its goals.

My thoughts on today's big mistake by President Trump to put America last - and the big fight he's started. Lets go. https://t.co/YmgI8FBwhg

Disappointed with today’s decision on the Paris Agreement. Climate change is real. Industry must now lead and not depend on government.

America Last. A miserable and historic moment. Listening to Trump is listening to an unending stream of lies and bullshit.

Climate change requires a global approach. I'm disappointed in the President's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement #mepolitics

Withdrawing from the Paris accord turns a symbol of American leadership into a symbol of American isolation. Damages our economy & security

By withdrawing from the Paris agreement, Trump has turned the US from a climate leader into a climate deadbeat https://t.co/Lr01W9EBht

Our future. https://t.co/Xu0vH1S5X1

.@realDonaldTrump says that the U.S. is pulling out of the #ParisAccord. He better check his geography because Boston will do no such thing.

The demonstration began after today's announcement. People are concerned about the lack of US leadership jeopardizi… https://t.co/Z0PgBRksPE

Disappointed with today’s decision on the Paris Agreement. Climate change is real. Industry must now lead and not depend on government.

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Irma - described by Trump as a storm of "absolutely historic destructive potential" - pummeled Cuba and the Bahamas on Friday, and a second powerful hurricane was tracking towards the northeastern Caribbean.

Asked if the storms might force Trump to rethink his climate change policy, Hulot said: "What will change in the United States are the federal states, the cities, a whole section of society. I think that is what will make up for the reservations of the American president on the links between cause and effect."